Man ‘remorseful’ over garda assault

A Longford man who allegedly assaulted a garda over the Christmas period has expressed his “extreme remorse” over the incident.
Frank Gearty, acting on behalf of Patrick Stokes, 6 Cartron Breac, Longford, said his client would be pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity and was especially contrite over his own behaviour.

That came following an incident at Longford garda station on December 27 when Mr Stokes allegedly assaulted a garda contrary to section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.
He was also charged with using or engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour during the same incident and resisting a garda.

Mr Gearty said Mr Stokes had also come to court with €260 by way of a voluntary or “ex gratia payment”.
Mr Gearty said his client had been off alcohol for seven months but had suffered a relapse on St Stephen’s Day which ultimately led up to the aforementioned incident before the court.

Legal aid was also granted to the accused with Judge Bernadette Owens adjourning proceedings until February 7, 2023.